I have always wanted a big front porch. You know, the kind that wraps around the front of your house. The kind that's covered with a roof and has several little seating areas so you can sit, in any kind of weather, and watch the world go by...while sipping a sweet tea. The kind that you can go crazy decorating for the different seasons and holidays. Yeah, I've always wanted one just like that...sigh.
Unfortunately, we've never come close to owning a home with a porch like that (and we've lived in 10 homes in the past 30 years). Every time we've had to search for a home, a big front porch has always been high on my wish list, but it's always been a "want" and not a "need". If you've bought a house then you know that the "needs" always win out, so it's just never worked that way for us.
This time around, we've moved into a house that has more of a front stoop than a front porch. No roof, crumbling concrete, a rusty, chippy railing and just enough room for 2 to stand on it. It's not my dream but it serves it's purpose. The only time it really bothers me is when I decorate for fall or Christmas, but I know that there are more important things to worry about in life so I try to make do with what I've got...a small stoop.
So, all of that to tell you that I'm sharing my fall front porch today and that I'm part of the Home for Fall blog hop so, after your done here, you can visit all of the other talented bloggers to see what kind of fall projects they're sharing.
I'm not able to have a chair or bench on the porch, so I put a rickety, chippy chair in the flowerbed, threw a wool blanket on it and now it's a pumpkin holder.
The purple fountain grass is still hanging around from summer. It didn't do very well this year. Actually, none of my plants did well this summer. Too cold for too long, I think.
I brought my vintage olive bucket, that I found at the flea market, around from the back deck and put one of the mums in it. I love its rusty patina.
This year I mixed a few real pumpkins with some faux and it's really hard to tell the difference. I also used my trick of smearing vaseline on the real ones to keep the squirrels from eating them (I did a post on it way back in 2013). I've done this for the last 3 seasons and it's worked like a charm (the trick is to keep a good, thick coat on it).
Well, I think we've explored every possible angle of my fall front stoop. What have I learned from having a small porch? I've come to realize that a rickety old chair, put in the flowerbed, can work as a pumpkin holder...that vaseline on a pumpkin will keep away the squirrels...that a vintage, rusty olive bucket makes me happy...and that having a small front stoop isn't so bad. 😉
Update: My fall porch was featured on Huffington Post! You can check it out here.
Jessica [Havok] says
Absolutely love how vibrant the colors of your mums are! They're the perfect shades for Fall! 😀
Kristi says
Thanks so much Jessica! Nothing like mums in the fall, right? 🙂 I appreciate you stopping in. Hope you have a great week!
Kim says
I have a small stoop too...it's so small that when we open the door, people have to step off the stoop or they'll get knocked off! I guess a front entry wasn't a priority in the 1920's...not in my neighborhood anyway. Yours looks lovely, very well dressed for fall!
Kristi says
Thanks Kim! Ha, that is a small stoop. It seems like there's a lot of small stoop homes out there.
Ellie LaJuett says
Love how you gave a small area such character. I have an even smaller one, but I can use some of your ideas!
Kristi says
Thanks Ellie! So glad that you were able to get some ideas for your own stoop. 🙂 Happy Fall!
My Creative Days says
Love this! Looks great for fall!
Kristi says
Thanks so much!
dkhalcomb2 says
Lovely front stoop. Back in the day we just sat on the stoop steps and watched people go by. Maybe that is where Stoop came from, because it looks like you are stooping when you sit there. Have a great weekend. Debbie
Kristi says
Thanks Debbie! I've never heard that explanation before. Makes perfect sense! Have a great week!
Pat says
Not everyone is blessed with their fantasy porch (me either) and you've made your "stoop" very inviting and natural looking. It's a lot closer to what a lot of us have than some of the "made for magazine" front porches that a few lucky people have. No apologies necessary. It looks like fall at a home that is appreciated for what it does have and it is perfect for giving the rest of us "stoop" owners some great ideas.
Kristi says
Awww, thanks so much Pat. What a sweet comment. 🙂 So glad to hear from other stoop homeowners.
chris aka monkey says
i love your stoop it is very fally xx
Kristi says
Ha, I love your comment. Thanks! 🙂
Time With Thea (@TimeWithThea) says
It still is a lovely inviting area to your home with lots of lovely delightful details. I loved your photography showcasing your front steps!
Kristi says
Awww, thanks so much Thea for the lovely comment. So glad you stopped in to visit.
MaryJean says
I think your blog is very popular because the majority of us have smaller homes so it's always nice to see visions of how great our homes can look! Lovely fall setting Kristi!
P.S. Went to an estate sale this last weekend and got a lot of great stuff! 😉
Kristi says
Wow MJ, thanks so much for that. I always hope that I can inspire in some small way. 🙂
Yay for your estate sale score. It doesn't happen for me often, but when I hit a good one, it feels great. Good for you!
Hope you have a great week my friend!
Nancy says
It may be a small front porch, but it's big on fall decliciousness, Kristi. Love all the rusty, chippy elements. The perfect balance of color and neutrals. The chair is a great touch, and I love how the iron railing and concrete works as the perfect backdrop for your rustic touches. I love it, my friend! Enjoy! (I didn't know the vaseline trick. That's good to know. I would think the Indian corn would be a bigger draw for the critters. No?)
Kristi says
Thanks so much Nancy! This is the only time of the year where the rusty, chippy railing actually goes with my decor. LOL It's on the list but it's way down at the bottom. As far as the Indian corn, I only put it out there for my pics right now. It is a big draw for the squirrels so once it gets closer to Halloween I'll put it out and let them go to town. Thanks for visiting my friend, and I hope the rest of the week is good for you.
Funky Junk Interiors says
Rustic perfection! LOVE the olive bucket with flowers especially. Sooooo gorgeous!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Donna! I love to use my vintage olive bucket every chance I get. 😉
Thank you too for all of the work you put into the hop. So many awesome projects by so many talented bloggers.
jillflory says
I have a big front porch and it just gets piled with stuff it seems - hard to keep it looking pretty! I love how yours looks!
Kristi says
Thanks Jill! One good thing about having a tiny porch is that you can't put a lot on it. 😉 If we had a big one it may very well be piled with stuff too. I always have a dream of a beautiful big porch but the reality would probably be different.
Michele says
Your little porch is lovely. I once had a house with a big front porch, and I was so busy with little kids and working that other than maybe putting out a jack-o-lantern on Halloween, I never even decorated it! Oh, to go back an be able to decorate that porch now...
Kristi says
Thanks so much Michele, I appreciate it. I totally get how hard it is to decorate when you have kids, I was the same way. If I would have had a big porch when they were small, I wouldn't have done much either. 😉
Linda says
Very sweet Fall porch. Mums are always a favorite.
Kristi says
Thanks Linda! Mums are a favorite of mine too and the are so easy to care for. 🙂